Long term diesel experience??

[pfrederi 18,387]

Over the last few years some members have made a diesel horse...many with Carroll Stream diesels.  I was wondering if anyone who did a conversion would care to share a long term use report...(Sort of like some car magazines that keep a car for year).  I think I want to make one but am interested in how they have held up.

[tractorhogg 612]

I think the durability and reliability of most diesel engines is fairly good, especially compared to aftermarket Chinese clones or even newer brand name gas engines. That said, diesel does offer a few cons to some, noise for one, smoke and smell as well, not everyone enjoys the noise, smoke, or fumes. Also if it is a water cooled conversion axle and suspension may need to be strengthened and extra weight must be accounted for in steering and turning. i would be interested as well, but the results could be less than scientific on a self report type of survey due to many types of extraneous and confounding factors.

[shallowwatersailor 3,214]

Paul, I have one tractor with a Carroll Stream 10 HP  that I got in a trade. When I bought the 523Dxi two years ago, I found that it would be beneficial to have a second diesel to be able to fuel from the same five gallon can. As you know, diesel fuel goes a long way! The problem is I am still breaking the DC-105. iI broke my ankle last June so it kept me off the tractors for about four months. Right now it only has about ten hours on it. I try to run vary the rpm to around 2400-2800 rpm (I have a tach on it) as the manual calls for moderate rpm for the first 20 hours. Standard rpm is 3600.  Most of those hours have been going up and down my street. This Summer I should be able to put it to work pulling a cart, etc. No mowing though.

 

One thing is being able to start it when the temperature is below 60 degrees. There is a compression release which does help with starting when cold. It also has a glow plug that is in the air intake, not in the cylinder head. But it needs to be warmed a long time depending on how cold it is.  I have thought of using my heat gun to assist in starting though. Once it has been running, there aren't any problems. 

 

I would like to have another conversion, possibly doing my C-145 Hydro. One thing I have noticed is that Carroll Stream varies their price. I looked a few weeks ago and it is $25.00 cheaper right now for the 10 HP.

Edited February 21, 2016 by shallowwatersailor

[SALTYWRIGHT 859]

I HAVE DONE TWO DIESELS. A 10 H/P AND A 6 H/P. BOTH HAVE WORKED OUT VERY GOOD. ONE WAS IN A 417-8 AND THE OTHER IN A 1054. IT IS A VERY EASY JOB.

I HAD PLANNED TO DO ANOTHER TRACTOR WITH TWO DIESELS THIS WINTER BUT I FELL IN DEC AND BROKE MY NECK AND MORE SO I NEVER GOT TO DO THAT.

 RUSS

[sorekiwi 761]

2 years on mine now, and I mowed with it most of last summer (3 acres, weekly).  Mines a 10 horse on a 518.

 

 

The starter died on mine reasonably quickly.  One day I will get around to fixing it.  Above 50 degrees it starts fine with the recoil, below 50 forget it.  Apart from that the motor has been reliable.

 

I do plan to convert this tractor to an 8 speed, hoping to free up some more HP for the 48" deck.  If my grass gets a bit long the tractor struggles a little compared to the 20 HP Onan in my 520H.  For aesthetic reasons I want to do something different with the aircleaner, probably tuck it back under the hood, above the starter.

[tractorhogg 612]

It seems to be a common issue on any conversion about air cleaner/gas tank fitment as most were not designed to fit under a hood, at least not a mower hood. Finding the right fit and hp is not easy. I here so many people love their diesels, many due to gas savings. A air cooled 10hp diesel will of course be much more efficient than a twin Onan, but so would a 10hp kohler, maybe not as much, but most diesel conversion I hear of are for considerably less hp, probably because of the size of a 18-20 hp diesel

[can whlvr 993]

I think that a good block heater would be a necessity up  where I live,thats the one draw back to these small motors,they don't want to start,just like my 89 bobcat,gottaglow it for 60 seconds in winter,and if its real cold plug her in,but I keep her in my heated shop so I can get her goin when I need it

[shallowwatersailor 3,214]

My conversion, done by Joe Mazur, is on a Blackhood C-85. I think that the square, tall shape of the hood makes fitting the engine in easier. The only changes were to raise and extend the hood hinge, replace the shaker plate with steel strips, and make the exhaust into a vertical stack.

 

If it was to be used year round, like most small engines today there are two oil drains. One could be possibly converted to an immersion heater. I did add an extension on the one I drain the oil that originally came from a generator application. The black cap in the bottom photo below the starter is the oil strainer. Obviously engineered better than the Honda clone engines, although this is supposedly a Yanmar clone!